Theftpeooj



Feb. 5," 1924.

' L. WILKE THEFTPROOF RECEIVER BOX Filed Feb. 24'

3 2 9 1 v i u n Z a.. l 7 3 2 .1, fl m `I! |IIHI|IIH|I|ILUHIIHHHHH1|HHU f Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

UNI-TED STATES PATENIT OFFICE.

THEFTPR-OOF RECEIVERv BOX.

Application filed February 24, 1923.

T0 all wh'om t may cmwern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS Winna, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Morsemere, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Theftproof Receiver Boxes, of which the following is a specification, such as Will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to receiver boxes particularly designed for household use and which are adaptcd to bc placed in juxtaposition to the entrance to a house or apartment and to be automatically locked by a member or ongaging the door, or co-operating with the door and the door frame-work, said receiver box being adapted to receive articles delivered to the house or apartment such for example as bottles of milk, cream and the like, after which the closure member of such receiver box is moved into operative or locked' position to prevent the removal of the articles placed in said receiver boxes until the door is opened, and the object of the invention is to provide a keyless receiver box of the class described with one or nxor-e members adapted to be placed between the door and doorframe for retaining they receiver box in juxtaposition thereto, one of said members forming a part of the lock mechanism of said receiver boxes, a further object being to provide means whereby the cover member of the receiver box cannot be moved into a locked position until an article or articles have been placed in the receiver boxes, said means being automatically actuated and moved into inoperative position by the placement of an article or articles in the receiver box, and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, eflicient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention described and claimed herein is an improvement on that shown and described in a prior application for a patent filed December 7, 1921, Ser. No. 520,- 506, and is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the accompanying Seria! No. 620,903;

drawing forms a part, in which theseparate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, andin which:

lFig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional View through my improved receiver box with the various parts thereof in an operative position.

F ig. 2 is a front view of the box shown in Fig. 1 with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig., 3 is a plan view of the box shown in Fig. 1 with parts of the construction broken away and in section; and,

Fig. 4 is .a view similar to Fig. `1 but showing only a part of the construction and showing the parts in an inoperative position.

In practice I provide a receiver box or casing 10 which is oblong and rectangular in form andl open at the top, the top of the box or casingbeing adapted to be closed by cover member-11, hinged as shownv at 12 and one sidel Wall 13 of the receiver box tapers upwardly and outwardly to reduce the transverse dimensions of the bottom of the receiverbox as clearly shown in Fig'. 1 of the drawing. Mounted transversely of the top of the receiver box adjacent to one corner thereof is a lock rod 14 provided centrally with an enlarged' or offset portion 15 and at one end with a projeotinglock member 16 preferably bent in the manner shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and the lock bar 14 may be inserted into the casing on the lock member 16 thereof at either side of the casing, and suitable means, for example a pinned collar 17, is provided for retaining the lock rod against displacement from the casing.

Another lock member 18 is similar to the lock member 16 and composed of a strip of sheet metal is adapted 'to be secured to either side of the box or casing by passing a projecting portion 19 thereof through an aperture in the oasing and passing a pin 20 through the projection 19 illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and in practice both of the lock members 16. and 18 are adapted to be placed between one side of a door 21 and the adjacent side of the doorframe 22 as indicated in dot and dash lines in. Fig. 3 of the drawing, to retain the receive!` box against displacement when the door is in a closed position.

Seoured to the opposite sides of the receiver box, adjacent to that part thereof through which the lock rod 14 passes are substantially hook-shaped members 23 having spring members 24 which are' adapted to retain and support the lock member 16 in a raised or operative position and also to hold the ofiset portion 15 of the lock rod in a predetermined position.

Secured to the inner face of the cover member 11 is a pivoted spring-actuated dog 25 which is adapted to engage the offset portion 15 of the lock rod 14 to lock the cover member 11 in its closed position, and the top of the wall 13 of the receiver box in the construction shown is extended inwardly as shown at 26 and downwardly as shown at 27 to form an enclosure for the lock mechanism of the receiver box or lock controlling mechanism, and the extension 26 is apertured as shown at 28 to permit of the passage of the dog 25 therethrough.

A suitable bail 29 is pivotally mounted in connectionV with studs 30 approximately centrally of the opposite sides of the receiver box and the studs are provided with inwardly projecting portions 31, on which are pivotally mounted levers 32 adjacent to the inner faces of the side walls of the receiver box, and the levers 32 are joined at their upper ends by a substantially L-shaped crosshead portion 33 which is adapted to cooperate with the lock rod 14 and principally the projecting portion 15 thereof, as shown inFig. 4 of the dra-Wing' to prevent the dog 25 from engaging said lock rod. The lower ends of the levers 32 are provided with offset lip portions 34 and pivotcd to the lower end portions of said levers are ears a wire frame 35 which issubstantially U-shaped in form and the bottom or crosshead portion 35 of which is fashioned in the manner indicated in full and dotted lines iu Fig. 3 of the dra-Wing to form a support for a. board member 36, upon which milk bottles or other articles are adapted to be placed.

The use of my improved box will bo readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and the following' statement.` It will be understood that the receiver box is first placed in and between a door and door frame in the manner diagrammatically illustrated in Fig.. 3 of the drawing, and if the box be empty, the parts will assume the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, in which the crosshead 33 of the levers 32 is in e-ngagement with the offset portion 15 of the lock rod 14 and in this position if the cover member 11 be moved downwardly into a closed position, the

crosshead portion 33 will operate to prevent the engagement of the dog 25 with the lock bar 14 and it will be impossible to lock said cover member, as will be apparent. When an article, such for example as a milk bottle, is placed in the receiver box however, and upon the board or platform 36, said board will be lowered, thus Operating the levers; 32 to move vthe same into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing, to move the crosshead out of engagement with the lock rod 14, and lthe operation of closing the cover member 11 will` bring the dog 25 into engagement withV the offset portion 15, and the cover member will then be locked, and in order to reopen the receiver box, the door 21 must be first opened after which the lock member 16 may be rotated to move the offset portion 15 of the lock rod 14 into inoperative position to permit the opening of the cover member 11, and in this operation, the spring member 24 supporting the lock member 16 is depressed by hand.

.A receiver box of the class specified will be as near as possible fool proof in its use, in that it is necessary to first place the articles to *be delivered into the receiver box before the cover member can be moved into a locked position, and. no education on the part of the party delivering the packages to be placed in the receiver box will be re- "luired, and further the cover member of the receiver box cannot accidentally be locked without the placement of a package or packages therein and while I have shown certain details of construction for carrying my invention into effect, it will be understood that l-am not necessarily limited to these details and various changes therein and modificationg the-rcof may be made within the scope of the appenzded claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

It will also be understood that the levers 32, frame 34 and board 36 may be removed from the easing by springing the levers 32 inwardly toward each other to disengage said levers from the projections 31. This will facilitate the Cleaning of the interior of the receiver box as well as the board 36 at will.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A receiver "box of the class described provided with members adapted to be placed between a swinging member and stationary support therefor, said members being reversiblc on the receiver box, and one of which constitutes a part of a lock mechanism and extends transversely throu h the receiver box and the closure of t e receiver box being provided with a catch device adapted to cooperate with said last named member for retaining the closure in a closed position.

2. A receiver box of the class described provided with members adapted to be placed between a swiinging member and stationary support therefor, said members being reversible on the receiver box, and one of which constitutes a. part of a lock mechanism and extends transversely through the receiver box, the closure of the receiver box being provided with a catch device adapted to cooperate with said last named member for retaining the closure in a closed position, and means within said receiver box for controlling the engagement of said catch device with said member.

8. A receiver box of the class described provided with a closure having a catch device, a rod mounted transversely of the receiver box and in connection with which said catch device is adapted to operate, said rod projecting through one side of the receiver box and being provided with a bent lock member adapted to be placed between a swinging member and stationary support for retaining the receiver box in predctermined position, and a member movably mounted in the receiver box and normally cooperating with said rod to prevent the engagement of said catch device therexvith.

ll. A receiver box of the class descriiicd provided with a closure having;` a catch device, a rod mounted transversely of the receiver box and in connection with which said catch device is adapted to operate, said rod projecting through one side of the receiver box and being provided with a bent lock member adapted to be placed between a swinging member and stationary support for retaining the receiver box in predetermined position, a member movably mounted in the receiver box and normally coopera'ting with said rod to prevent the engagement of said catch device therewith, and a platform in operative connection with said mem ber and upon which articles placed in the receiver box are adapted to rest, and the placement of an article upon said platform serving to move said member into an inoperative position.

5. A rcceiver box of the class described provided with a closure having a catch device, a rod mounted transversely of the re ceiver box and in connection with which said catch device is adapted to operate, said rod proiecting` through one side of the rcceiver box and being' provided with a beat lock member adapted to be placed between a swinging member and stationary support for retaining the receiver box in pred-etcr mincd position, a member movablv mounted 'in the recciver box and normally Cooperatng' with said rod to prevent the engagement of said catch device therewith,y and a plat form in operative connection With said member and upon which articles placed in the receiver box are adapted to rest, and the placement of an article upon said platforn'i serving to move said member into an inoperative position, said member and platform being removably mounted in said receivcr box.

6. A receiver box of the class describcd provided with a closure having a catch de vice, a rod mounted transversely of the re ceiver box and in connection with which said catch device is adapted to operate, said rod projecting through one side of the rcceiver box and being: provided with a bcnt lock member adapted to be placed between a swinging member and stationary support for retaining the receiver box in predetermined position, a member movably mounted in the receiver box and normally cooperat ing with said rod to p'revent the eng'agement of said catch device therewith, a platform in operative connection with said member and upon which articles placed in the receiver box are adapted to rest, and the placement of an article upon said platform serving to move said member into an inopcrative position, said member and platform beino' removably mounted in said receiver box` ano the top of said receiver box being provided with a shield enclosing the lock mechanisin therein.

7. A receiver box of the class described provided With a closure having` a catch device7 a rod mounted transverselyT of the receiver box and in connection with which said catch device is adapted to operate, said rod projecting through one side of the 'receiver box and being provided with a. bent lock member adapted to be placed between a swinginz member and stationary support for retaining the receiver box in predetermined position. a member movably monnted in the receiver box and normally Cooperating i Tith said rod to prevent the engaoement of said catch device therewith a platform in operative connection with said member and upon which articles placed in the receiver box are adapted to rest, and the placement of an article upon said platform servin;` to move said member into an inoperativc position, said member and platform being rcmovably mounted in said receiver box, and the opposite sides of the receiver box being' provided in juxtaposition to said rod with lieepers involving spring devices for retaining' the rod and the lock mechanisni thereof in predetermined positions.

8. A receiver box of the class dcscribed provided with a closure having` a catch device, a rod mounted transversely of the receiver box and in connection with which said catch device is adapted to operate, said rod projecting through one side of the receiver box and being` provided with a bent. lock member adapted to be placed between llO a swinging member and stationary support for retaining the receiver box in predetermined position, a member movablj,7 mounted in the receiver box and normally cooperating with said rod to prevent the engagement of said catch device therewith, a platform in operative connection with said member and upon which articles placed in the receiver box are adapted to rest, and the placement of an article upon said platform serving to move said member into an inopcrative position, said member' and platform being removably mounted in said receiver box, and the opposite sides of the receiver box being provided in juxtaposition to said rod with keepers involving spring devices for retaining the rod and the lock mechanism thereof in predetermined positions, and a retaining member 'adapted to be mounted in connection with one side of the receiver box and to be placed between the swinging member and stationary support.

9. A receiver box of the class described provided with a closure having a catch device, a rod mounted transversely of the receiver box and in connection with which said catch device is adapted to operate, said rod projecting through one side of the receiver box and being provided with a bent lock member adapted to be placed between a swinging member and stationary support for retaining the receiver box in prede'termined position, a member movably mounted in the receiver box and normally cooperating with said rod to prevent the engagement of said catch device therewith, a platform in operative connection with said member and upon which articles placed in the receiver box are adapted to rest, and the placement of an article upon said platform serving to move said member into an inoperative position, said member and platform being removably mounted in said receiver box, and the opposite sides of the receiver box being provided in juxtaposition to said rod with keepers involving spring devices for retaining the rod and the lock mechanism thereof in predetermined positions, a retaining member adapted to be mounted in connection with one side of the receiver box and to be placed between the swinging member and stationary support, and the bottoin of said receiver box being of less transverse dimensions than the top thereof.

10. A receiver box of the class described provided with a closure member and a lock mechanism for said closure member, said lock mechanism bein provided with a part adapted to be placed; between a stationary body and movable member when the member is in its closed position for retaining the lock mechanism in its operative position, the other part of said lock mechanism being carried by said closure member and cooperating with said first named part, and a unit movably mounted in the receiver box and normally cooperating with said first named part to prevent the interlocking of the separate parts of the lock mechanism.

11. A receiver box of the class described provided with a closuremember and a lock mechanism for said closure member, said lock mechanism bein provided with a part adapted to be place between a stationary body and movable member when the member is in its closed position for retaining the lock mechanism in its operative position., the other part of said lock mechanism being carried by said closure member and' cooperating with said first named part, and a unit movably mounted in the receiver box and normally cooperating with said first named part to prevent the interlocking of the separate parts of the lock mechanism, said unit involving a platform suspended in the receiver box and upon which the articles placed therein are adapted to rest.

12. A receiver box of the class described provided with a closure member and a lock mechanism for said closure member, said lock mechanism being provided With a part adapted to be placed between a stationary body and movable member when the member is in its closed position for retaining the lock mechanism in its operative position, the other part of said lock mechanism being carried by said closure member and cooperating with said first named part, a unit movably mounted in the receiver' box and normally cooperating with said first named part to prevent the interlocking of the separate parts of the lock mechanism, said unit involving a platform suspended in the receiver box and upon which the articles placed therein are adapted to rest, and a member automatically actuated by the depression of said platform.

13. A receiver box of the class described provided with a closure member, a lock mechanism for said closure member comprising a part carried by said closure member and a part mounted in the receiver box, a platform movably sus ended in the re'- ceiver box and upon which articles placed in said box are adapted to rest, and a U-shaped lever in operative engagement with said platform and adapted to cooperate with the last named part of the lock mechanism to automatically control the movement of the closure member into a closed and locked position.

14. A receiver box of the class described provided with a closure member, a lock mechanism for said closure member comprising a part carried by said closure member and a part mounted in the receiver box, a platform movably suspended in the receiver box and upon which articles placed in said box are adapted to rest, a U-shaped lenamed part of the lock mechanism in prever in operatve engagement With said platcleterinned position in the receiver box. fomn and. adaptecl to cooperate With the last 111 testimony that I claim the foregoing named part of the lock mechanisni to autoas niy inventon I have signed my name this matically control the niovement of the clo- 23m1 day of Feb. 1923.

sure member into a closed and locked position, and means for supportng the second LOUIS WILKE. 

